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The deviled egg appetizer was disappointingly flavorless and served on yellowing arugula, but the cavatelli was utterly to die for. The biscuit was savory and satisfying, more so slathered with butter. Service was efficient and friendly. I have fond memories of coming here back in the early '80s and into the '90s when the neighborhood was grittier. Options have changed now. Just thrilled that this gem has been preserved as an historic landmark. I look forward to returning to this sweet and charming locale the next time I'm back in New York.
The cutest old school looking diner. Randomly looking for a place to have a late lunch just before a snow store and Empire was luckily open. It has the look of one of those metal old school diners from the outside but it's surprisingly very large inside. There are 2 sides and an upstairs. Our waiter (whose man I didn't get) was really nice. The hot chocolate really hit the spot on a snow day. Steak was a tad chewy but it was seasoned well. The bread was perfectly toasted. It was a solid diner meal.
Stopped in here for a random dinner as I was walking by with some friends and it looked like a lively little diner. We were seated immediately outside and were served pretty quickly too. I got the fish and chips and it was pretty solid! The fish was flakey and soft with a crispy exterior and I appreciated the assortment of sauces that it came with. It was a solid dinner but not a place I'm dying to return to.
This place is a must visit. I used to stop by here 20 years ago, late night on my way home. Steak and Eggs and a Dos Equis. Accidentally came across this in my recent visit, and I had to try the Steak and Eggs once again. Still amazing.. The space and drink menu have been remodeled, but it still has the same good food. I like that the owner has kept the same iconic look to the building Sat on the second floor, which was spacious for Manhattan dining . Steak and Eggs with a pistachio martini. Left there impressed. Highly recommend revisiting
I had a small Meet Up for dinner on Thanksgiving after getting an email about Empire's holiday menu. I was lucky to get a same-week reservation but fortunately we were eating on the late side. The staff were very friendly and patient because we took a while to order. Once we did, our waiter brought out complimentary biscuits. A nice touch. My vegetarian friend, who loves the Diner, got the veggie burger and a margarita. I'd had a late afternoon Thanksgiving meal and opted for the Waldorf Salad, which was bountiful and really colourfully plated. I was really impressed since many dinner salads are too small and underwhelming. I hadn't been to the Empire Diner in years so I'm glad to have it back on my radar.
We had a wonderful dinner there. It's been around for a while, it's so cozy in there, the pillows are a nice touch. The staff are super friendly and warm, and the food was solid. We had potato rosti, butter lettuce salad, cavatelli, and smoked pork. Everything was consistently pleasant. The biscuits too. I'm still thinking about that salad.
Cute restaurant, love the decor! Great wines/cocktail menu and food menu was good too. I had the pastrami sandwich, friends got ribeye and burger. We all enjoyed it! Also got raw oysters as appetizer, very fresh. The waiter was attentive, also brought us comp biscuit! Only downside was the price. I was shocked for the sandwich + shared appetizer, I paid $70.... That's wild to me. Otherwise I'd be back to try other stuff, prob in doses.
Had the Steak and eggs, simple, no issues. Steak was cooked right, eggs were solid, and the plate came out exactly how you expect it to. If you're in the Chelsea area and looking for a casual bite with all different options I totally recommend Empire!
We sat outside which was fine, next time I'll sit inside. Only reason I took a star off is because the mustard on the salmon is messes up the dish so bad. They really need to not put that mustard, also says it's a sweet glaze sauce but none was on it. The fish itself had great taste and I loved the puréed cauliflower. The deviled eggs were good they gave 3 pieces which is basically an egg and a half for $9. The steak was the star of the show. I would go back to order that ! The server Nick was wonderful he was nice and patient.
On a wintry December morning, we stopped into the Empire Diner for an elevated experience. I love nothing more than a greasy spoon, and the Empire Diner moves the standard diner menu up a few notches. You can tell from the first bite of their Buttermilk Biscuits - scratch made, crispy brown with steaming, fluffy, feathery insides. Slathered in house butter, it's enough to warrant a return. But we also got the Waldorf Salad (arugula, radicchio, pears, grapes, candied walnuts, arugula, mizuna, & gorgonzola) and the Avocado Toast (avocado on sourdough filone, radish, cilantro, calabrian chili). We added poached eggs to each and left the diner with full bellies and a hankering for more biscuits. Definitely coming back again whenever we're in Chelsea. Totally recommend Empire Diner for anyone looking for good eats!
An elevated grilled cheese and tomato soup!!! Super good- staff was so nice too! In one of the best locations in the city. I will definitely be back!
Dined here multiple times last week while in Chelsea for work. Manager JP was so festive and fun, and made me feel very accepted on a buzzy Saturday night even though I was the only one in there with a child. He even promised to send me the playlist from that night :p Our server, Jordan, took great care of us too. Love their ginger shot!
I went there for my birthday dinner. It was like a last minute decision but I always wanted to try this place out so I was really happy. I had meatloaf and a glass of Sancerre. The food was delicious and our waiter was really nice. Also I had black cherry cheesecake and it was amazing. The interior was better than I expected. I will definitely go back
5 months ago
Just flew into NY and needed a late dinner. Landed on the Empire Diner nearby in Chelsea. Classic dinner setting with inside or outside seating. Decor and ambiance is very 50's diner retro . Menus is a mixed bag of assorted goodies. My wife decided on the pasta with lump crab. I went pastrami sandwich (ordered w/o the Swiss cheese) with fries. Both dishes were great. Wonderful way to start our trip. Had been there for bunch our last trip, so we knew it was worth the return trip. read more
5 days ago
The deviled egg appetizer was disappointingly flavorless and served on yellowing arugula, but the cavatelli was utterly to die for. The biscuit was savory and satisfying, more so slathered with butter. Service was efficient and friendly. I have fond memories of coming here back in the early '80s and into the '90s when the neighborhood was grittier. Options have changed now. Just thrilled that this gem has been preserved as an historic landmark. I look forward to returning to this sweet and charming locale the next time I'm back in New York. read more
The cutest old school looking diner. Randomly looking for a place to have a late lunch just before a snow store and Empire was luckily open. It has the look of one of those metal old school diners from the outside but it's surprisingly very large inside. There are 2 sides and an upstairs. Our waiter (whose man I didn't get) was really nice. The hot chocolate really hit the spot on a snow day. Steak was a tad chewy but it was seasoned well. The bread was perfectly toasted. It was a solid diner meal. read more
5 months ago
Stopped in here for a random dinner as I was walking by with some friends and it looked like a lively little diner. We were seated immediately outside and were served pretty quickly too. I got the fish and chips and it was pretty solid! The fish was flakey and soft with a crispy exterior and I appreciated the assortment of sauces that it came with. It was a solid dinner but not a place I'm dying to return to. read more
This place is a must visit. I used to stop by here 20 years ago, late night on my way home. Steak and Eggs and a Dos Equis. Accidentally came across this in my recent visit, and I had to try the Steak and Eggs once again. Still amazing.. The space and drink menu have been remodeled, but it still has the same good food. I like that the owner has kept the same iconic look to the building Sat on the second floor, which was spacious for Manhattan dining . Steak and Eggs with a pistachio martini. Left there impressed. Highly recommend revisiting read more
I had a small Meet Up for dinner on Thanksgiving after getting an email about Empire's holiday menu. I was lucky to get a same-week reservation but fortunately we were eating on the late side. The staff were very friendly and patient because we took a while to order. Once we did, our waiter brought out complimentary biscuits. A nice touch. My vegetarian friend, who loves the Diner, got the veggie burger and a margarita. I'd had a late afternoon Thanksgiving meal and opted for the Waldorf Salad, which was bountiful and really colourfully plated. I was really impressed since many dinner salads are too small and underwhelming. I hadn't been to the Empire Diner in years so I'm glad to have it back on my radar. read more
1 year ago
We had a wonderful dinner there. It's been around for a while, it's so cozy in there, the pillows are a nice touch. The staff are super friendly and warm, and the food was solid. We had potato rosti, butter lettuce salad, cavatelli, and smoked pork. Everything was consistently pleasant. The biscuits too. I'm still thinking about that salad. read more
Cute restaurant, love the decor! Great wines/cocktail menu and food menu was good too. I had the pastrami sandwich, friends got ribeye and burger. We all enjoyed it! Also got raw oysters as appetizer, very fresh. The waiter was attentive, also brought us comp biscuit! Only downside was the price. I was shocked for the sandwich + shared appetizer, I paid $70.... That's wild to me. Otherwise I'd be back to try other stuff, prob in doses. read more
Had the Steak and eggs, simple, no issues. Steak was cooked right, eggs were solid, and the plate came out exactly how you expect it to. If you're in the Chelsea area and looking for a casual bite with all different options I totally recommend Empire! read more
We sat outside which was fine, next time I'll sit inside. Only reason I took a star off is because the mustard on the salmon is messes up the dish so bad. They really need to not put that mustard, also says it's a sweet glaze sauce but none was on it. The fish itself had great taste and I loved the puréed cauliflower. The deviled eggs were good they gave 3 pieces which is basically an egg and a half for $9. The steak was the star of the show. I would go back to order that ! The server Nick was wonderful he was nice and patient. read more
On a wintry December morning, we stopped into the Empire Diner for an elevated experience. I love nothing more than a greasy spoon, and the Empire Diner moves the standard diner menu up a few notches. You can tell from the first bite of their Buttermilk Biscuits - scratch made, crispy brown with steaming, fluffy, feathery insides. Slathered in house butter, it's enough to warrant a return. But we also got the Waldorf Salad (arugula, radicchio, pears, grapes, candied walnuts, arugula, mizuna, & gorgonzola) and the Avocado Toast (avocado on sourdough filone, radish, cilantro, calabrian chili). We added poached eggs to each and left the diner with full bellies and a hankering for more biscuits. Definitely coming back again whenever we're in Chelsea. Totally recommend Empire Diner for anyone looking for good eats! read more
7 months ago
Dined here multiple times last week while in Chelsea for work. Manager JP was so festive and fun, and made me feel very accepted on a buzzy Saturday night even though I was the only one in there with a child. He even promised to send me the playlist from that night :p Our server, Jordan, took great care of us too. Love their ginger shot! read more
4 months ago
I went there for my birthday dinner. It was like a last minute decision but I always wanted to try this place out so I was really happy. I had meatloaf and a glass of Sancerre. The food was delicious and our waiter was really nice. Also I had black cherry cheesecake and it was amazing. The interior was better than I expected. I will definitely go back read more
Random brunch walk-in with a 10 mins wait on Sat and this place is deceptively big. Sadly, big enough to have an impact on their service, which looked like a one time issue. Joshua took our order and we placed our entire order which included the green ($9) pressed juice which was refreshing, a $14 avocado toast which was consistent with one should expect, and $20 crispy chicken sandwich which was okay. Service was extremely slow unfortunately, and the place did not look like it was at capacity. The manager/owner however was personally visiting tables to apologize for the delay stating space issues in the kitchen. Ambiance looked pretty refreshing on the ground floor, and noise levels on the average end. Friendly servers, competitively priced menu, but sadly both, food and service failed to impress us during our visit. Will give it another try! read more
3 months ago
Long time listener, first time caller... Empire Diner reopened in 2017 under its current ownership, who also own the nearby Cafeteria restaurant. While cute inside and friendly service, we felt that the food and service were just not solid. Many of the price points are a bit high for the food quality and portion size. While we decided not to try any cocktails on this visit, we did try their Green juice, which was refreshing and delicious. While service was quick and friendly overall, our water glasses were consistently empty, and we had to flag down someone and specifically ask for more water on a few different occasions. As far as the food: We got the roast chicken: it was dry and flavorless. The accompanying salad was just lettuce and cheese, also flavorless and served without dressing. We also got soup and sandwich: The sandwich was mostly thick bread with cheese melted; however, the soup was delicious. And the fish and chips: Fish was perfectly fried and seasoned, as were the fries. Definitely the best of the three dishes we shared. We did come for brunch, and I'm not sure how the dinner menu differs. read more
4 months ago
4 months ago
There's a crowd for a reason! This place does not disappoint! The brunch is delicious!! They have indoor and outdoor seating. My friend and I were sat indoor. Plenty of seating inside and outside. Rustic but cozy Here's what I ordered - mimosa, nice and alcoholic - the buttermilk waffles! Wow you can taste the chai in the mascarpone crème. It wasn't overpowering with sweetness. Good balance!! And the pecan added nice texture. read more
This place is yummy! I've tried coming here a couple of times but have always been told the wait is 2+ hours long. However, I tried again at 3pm on a Sunday and there was no wait!! I ordered the steak and eggs and friend got the pastrami sandwich. Both were delicious!! The steak was cooked perfectly and the sauce on top was a great addition. The eggs were also the right amount of salty and was simply delicious. The potatoes were just all right, but overall, the entire dish was great! The pastrami sandwich was so cheesy it was delicious. I will definitely come back again read more
1 year ago
We just love this place. Excellent foods & services and atmosphere, can't be any better! Had awesome burger lunch, and especially loved the truffle fries... that was so super good!! Shakes are must have, OMG those were great! Strongly recommend!! read more
1 year ago
We are regulars at 192 Books just a block over, and stopped in at Empire for lunch a few years ago. Every time we're in the city, we go back! Cute spot, cool air conditioning for the summertime, delicious food, great drinks, and a kind and attentive staff! The mac and cheese is a favorite! read more
2 years ago
We stopped by on a Friday night around 9pm, so there was no wait, and there were many booths open. However, when we let the server know we were having dessert and not dinner, we were pointed towards the bar seating. It put a sour taste in my mouth instantly. My key lime pie and my husband's cookies were very good however nobody checked up on us, and I had to flag down a completely different server to get our check. Our server never came back after placing our food down. Ambience felt unwelcoming, after coming from a Michelin star dinner. read more
3 months ago
3 months ago
The food was really good, but thats it. Me and my company got two empire burgers, one impossible and one regular medium rare. The terrible thing about this place is the service. When we arrived, nobody was outside to seat us so we had to kind of hover inside to get some assistance(it was not busy whatsoever). Then we got seated and had three different waiters. The first one gave us some water and then we never heard from her again. She just kept passing by helping other people. 10 minutes later, we decided to flag down another waiter so we could place an order. She was nice enough to take our order and im thankful for her because she let us know we probably wont see her again since it's not her section. Our food came out but then our initial waiter told us we were leaving and then introduced us to our new waiter, which we saw two times, when he was introduced and when we were ready to pay. The funniest thing about the last waiter is he was expecting a tip after doing absolutely nothing. I would go here again for the food but the service was terrible! read more
My friend and I were wandering around Chelsea and passed by Empire Diner. It looked very vibey with the outdoor seating and music playing (love all the Ava Max!). Service was a little slow but they were swamped for a 1:30 pm on a Sunday. What we ordered: - Wedge Salad ($16): I thought this was great and decently priced. It looks huge and overwhelming at first but when you cut it, everything was appropriately portioned. - Omelette ($18): my friend liked it The bathroom situation is weird. There's one on the first floor and another one upstairs. The line was taking soooo long for both so I ended up just leaving. read more
3 years ago
Food 7/10 Loved the raspberry caramel espresso martini first of all. The food was solid diner food. Tbh my first diner experience, and I'm glad I got to experience this place. The food itself was good. Decent enough but not outstanding and a bit on the pricier side. I got the eggs benedict and my friend got the tomato soup and sandwich. Nothing out of the ordinary. Atmosphere 9/10 Really cool retro vibes. A lot of natural lighting Service 8/10 Nice and quite fast. read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
What looks like a retro diner on the outside isn't the same as what you get on the inside, as Empire Diner houses trendy tables, lighting, and a large bar. Unlike what you might expect from a diner that serves breakfast/brunch food all day, Empire Diner has a dinner-specific menu with entrees priced between $22-38 each. The Waldorf salad was okay--the fruit and chicken was delicious, and the greens seemed fresh, but the dressing lacked flavor and just tasted like oil, which was disappointing (but the portion size was large, which was a plus). The daily special was a Thanksgiving turkey sandwich, which was good flavor, but got soggy pretty quickly. The service was friendly, but slow, especially because there weren't that many people in the restaurant. read more
We walked by this place every single day and admired how adorable it looked each and every time. We were always on the move so we weren't able to stop in until our last day. We grabbed a seat outside and were promptly greeted by an amazing server. Despite it only being 9am, cocktails were had and they did not disappoint one bit. The Bloody Mary was dressed to perfection and A Berry Good Thyme was just what i needed to get my day started. The entire menu sounds delicious but The Empire Omelette blew me away, i am not exaggerating, this is the best omelette i have ever had. The boursin cheese is a game changer folks. Everything about this experience was *chef's kiss* read more
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More info about Empire Diner
210 10th Ave
New York, NY 10011
Chelsea
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(212) 335-2277
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http://empire-diner.com
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